Perambulator.



I PATENTED AUG. 6, 1907. D. R. COLLIER.

PERAMBULATOR, 7 APPLICATION FILED NOV.10. 1906.

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No. 862,711. PATENTED AUG. 6, 190"].

D. R. COLLIER.

PERAMBULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.10. 1906. Q 3

Panamanion.

DAVID R. COLLIER, OF GARDNER, MASSAGE USETTS.

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Specification of Letters Batent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1907.

Application filed November 10,19Q6. Serial No. 342,834.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID R. COLLIER, of Gardner, in the county ofWorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new andusefullmprovements in Per-.tmbulators, of which the following is aspecification. i

This invention has relation to folding perambulators, and has for itsgeneral object the provision of a light I perambulator which maybefolded into a small compass so that it may be carried with facility. Itsfurther object is to provide improvements in pei'ambulators of thecharacter referred to by which they may be simplified in construction,by which the parts may be securely locked in their operative positions,and by which the seat may be supported resiliently so aslto save theoccupant from shocks or ars.

' Referring to the drawings,Figure 1 represents in side elevationaperambulator embodying the invention. Fig.' 2 represents a rear 'endelevation of the same. Fig. 3 represents a plan view with the handles insection. Fig. 4 represents a section taken on line 4-4 .of Fig.1 withthe foot-rest omitted. Fig. 5 represents in detail the partor casting,to which are pivoted the back and sides of the seat and the handles.Fig. 6 represents a perspective view of the side of the carriage at theback of the seat. Fig, 7 shows one of the jointed braces connecting thewheel frame. Fig. 8 represents an enlarged section through one of theaxles and the bars constituting the wheel frame. Fig. 9 represents asection through the back of the seat.

- Briefly, .the perambulator may be stated to consist of a main frame,hinged wheel frames, 2. seat yieldingly supported on the main frame,hinged sides and a hinged back for the seat, anda hinged'handle the barsof which are adapted to be locked to the sides .of the seat.

The main frame consists of side bars 10 10 which are madev of flat metalstrips arranged horizontally with their ends turned downward at 11 and12. At the rear "end, these side bars are connected by a bowed or curvedcross-piece 13 likewise formed of fiatmetallic' strips but arrangedvertically and having its ends riveted or other wise secured to thedownturnec ends 11 of the side bars 10. The said'side bars 10 lQareal'so connected at their front endsv by a cross bar 14, having bent endsriveted or otherwise secured upon the top of said side bars 101 The ends15 of the front crossbar are bent upwardlyas shown, so that saidcross-bar 1.4 constitutes as it were, a dasher. I V I t The wheel framesconsist of flat metallic barslfi, .17, and I8. These are curved asillustrated in Fig. 1, the upperendsof the bars 17 and 18 being pivotedbystuds 19 and 20 to the downwardly turned ends 11 and 12 of thesidebars of the main frame. 'Each of the bars 17 serves to connect thebars '17 and 18 and its ends are" downwardly curved as illustrated. Eachof the wheel frames may as a whole be swung into substantialparallclismwith the plane of the main frame or else may be swungdownwardly into the position shown in Fig. 2. The ends of the bars 16,17 and 18 are brought substantially into parallelism as illustrated inFig. 1, and they are curved in a semi-circular form so as to form aclamp to firmly engage between them stud axles 21, see Kg. 8. The endsof the said bars are secured together by studs or rivets 22 whichrigidly secure together the bars which constitute each wheel frame andthe axles which are clamped thereby. v

Instead of employing three bars to form the wheel frame, I havecontemplated using a single bar which is properly bent into shape. Thewheels 23, of a y suitable design, are journaled upon the stud axlessndare held in place by the usual nuts. The wheel are connected by foldingor toggle braces indicated a 241 and permanently pivoted thereto. Eachbrace con sists of two toggle members a and b which are pivoted togetherby a stud or rivet 0, see Figs. 2 and 7. The -member a has an extensionbeyond the stud as ate, and it is slotted as at a to receive a pin 1) onthe memher I). When the wheel frames are vertical or intheir operativepositions, the pivot c is in alinem ent with the pivots which connectthe brace with the wheel frames so that the wheel frames are lockedagainst inward movement. The extension a and the pin a prevent themembers a and b from dropping downward at their point of connection.Each brace, viewed as a whole,

is'serpentine in shape; that is to say, it has downwardly curved endswhich are pivoted to the studs 22 and an upwardly curved middle portiond. The ends ofv the brace therefore lie between the parallel ends-of thebars of-the wheel frames and said braces extend transversely of theperambulator in the vertical planes of i the axles so that the lateralstrain of the axles is borne by 'the cross-braces and not by the wheelframes.

beneath the main frame close together and in close prox imity to theplan's ofthe frame. In practice, to' fold the wheel frames the braces aare first forced upwardly .at their pivotal connections 0, theright-hand wheel frame in Fig. 2 is then bent so'as to lie substantiallyparallel to the plane of the main frame; and then the left-hand wheelframe is folded inwardly so that the wheels carried thereby overlap andlie flat upon the other wheels.

The seatcomprises a frame formed of :fiat metallicbars 24, which areparallel with but-raisedabove the;

rear ends of said bars 24 are yieldingly supported bybars 28, the frontof which are attached to the bars 10 stantially in parallelism with eachother and with the and the rear ends to the said bars 24 of the seatframe. I The seat 27 is secured to the said bars 24 and it may be formedof wood suitably cushioned and upholstered.

Secured to the front ends of the side bars 24 of the seati'ranie areupstanding angle pieces 28, and to the rear ends of said sidebars aresecured brackets 29. Each bracket 29 has an upstanding lug or ear 3Oparallel with the upstanding portion with the corresponding angle piece28. The sides of the seat consist of tubes 31, which are bentsubstantially into U-form with their ends flattened. The ends of each ofthe sides are pivoted by studs 32 33 to the angle piece 28 and the lugor ear 30. Each side is provided with a longitudinal side bar 34 towhich issecured a sheet of leather or other suitable material 35, thelower end of which is attached to the seat 27. Each side is of suchheight that they may be folded or swung downwardly so as to lie subseat/By forming the sides of the seat of tubes, they are consequently lightin weight, yet at the same time strong and rigid.

The handle, indicated as a whole at 36, consists of an end bar 37 andcurved side bars 38 38, and it is formed of a tube bent substantiallyinto U-form with the ends flattened as illustrated at 39 in Fig. 2.These flattened ends are pivoted by studs 40 to the ends of the brackets29, see Fig. 5. The distance between the side bars 38 of the handle isgreater than the distance between the outer edges of the side bars 10 ofthe frame, so that, when the handle is swung downward into substantiallyhorizontal position, it :may swing by if necessarysaid side bars 10 ofthe frame.

In order that the handle and the sides of the scat may be held andlocked in their operative positions, I pro vide each of the side bars 38with a hooked latch 4i, pivoted at 42 thereto and adapted to have itshook enter an aperture in a lug 43 formed on or secured to thecorresponding side 31. A spring 44, connected to said hooked latch,holds it in engagement with the corresponding lock member 43. When thesides and the. handle are locked together, the sides converge downwardlyas illustrated in Fig. 2.

The back of the seat consists of a flat metallic bar 45 which is bentsubstantially into Uform or to form three sides of a rectangle and itsends are pivoted by studs 40 to upstanding ears 47 on the brackets 29.At intervals there are riveted or otherwise secured to the bar or frame45 angular ears or lugs 48, which serve as means for attaching to saidframe a board 49 which fills the space inelosed by the frame. This backboard is upholstered or covered with leather or oi ln-r.material asindicated at 50 5|, secured at Iheiredges by tacks us at 52. Cotter pinsor other suitable l'astcnings, as indicated at 53, are passed throughapertures in the back board and in the ears or lugs 48. It will beobserved that the projecting portions of the lugs 48 are in the rear ofthe board so as to withstand any strain or pressure which the occupantof the carriage may put thereon. By reason of its pivotal connect ion tothe seal frame, the back may be swung down sons to lie flat upon theseat, the axes of its pivots being located in a horizontal plane betweenthe plane of the seat and the plane of the pivots 32 33 for the sides.

In folding the perambulat'or, the back is first swung I lugs, each wheelframe comprising curved end downwardly so as to rest upon the seat, andthe sides are then swung inward so as to rest upon the back, one of saidsides being superimposed upon the other. In order to hold the back atany one of several positions and at any desired inclination, there ispivoted by studs 55 to the back frame 45 a yoke 54. The side bars of theyoke are formed with notches 56 for engagement V with inwardlyprojecting pins or abutments 57 on the brackets 29. To maintain inposition the yoke or pivoted supporting strut for the back, as it may betermed,

I utilize a spring 58, see Fig. 2, one end of which is attached to thecross-bar of the yoke and the other end of which is attached to theseat.

As a convenient foot-rest, I employ two transversely arranged strips offabric asindicated at 59, and respectively. These strips may be formedin one or more layers for strength. The strip 59 extends from the frontedge of the seat to which it is secured to the end bar 14 of the mainframe, and the strip 60 extends between the side bars 10 10 of the mainframe to which it is attached. Each strip is considerably longer thanthe space between the parts to which it is attached so that they sagdownwardly as illustrated in Fig. 1. Where they cross each other, theyare provided with a rectangular body portion of unyielding material suchas an oblong piece of wood 61, see Fig. 2, heavy leather or the like.Preferably each strip is-formed in ,two

layers as shown in Fig. 2, and the stiffening material is interposedbetween an upper and an under layer of each of the fabrics 59 and 60.The rigid body or foot supportis thus flexibly connected to theperambulator so that, when the wheel frames are folded into their in-.active positions, the foot-rest will move upwardly so as to liesubstantially in the plane of the main frame. When, however, theperambulator is in its operative condition, the foot rest drops to aplane considerably below the planes of the seat and the main frame toinsure the comfort of the occupant.

By connecting the longitudinal strip of fabric to the seat and to thefront end bar of the main frame, the foot rest is strengthened and aconvenient receptacle is afforded for cushions and coverings for thefeet and legs of the occupant.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described a way ofconstructing and using the same, although without attempting to setforth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the modes ofits use, I declare that what I claim is:

1. In a perainbnlutor of the character described, a main.

frame comprising flat metallic side bars arranged horizontally, a rearend bar arranged vertically and having its ends secured to the rear endsof the side bars, and a front end llill' of substantial U-shape havingitsend portions secured upon the side bars, and curving upwardlytherefrom so that the front portion is at an inclination to thehorizonta 2. in a pcramhulator of the character described, a main framehaving parallel side bars with downwardly projecting ears or lngs,-andwheel frames pivoted to said ears or lugs, each wheel frame comprisingcurved end portions and an intermediate connecting portion.

Ii. In a peramhulator of the character described, a main frame havingparallel side hers with downwardly project;

in; ears or lugs, wheel frames pivoted to said ears or an intermediateconnecting portion, said end and intermediate portions of each wheelframe being formed to provide sockets, and wheel axles secured in saidsockets.

4. In a peranibu'lator of the character described, the combination witha main frame having flat side bars with portions and down turned ends,of wheel frames formed of flat bars pivoted at their ends to the ends ofthe said side bars and braces connecting said wheel frames andcomprising two pivoted secfiions' pivoted at their ends to the wheelframes.

5. In a perambulator of the character described the combination with d'm'ain, frame having side bars, of wheel frames each pivb ted at -itsends to the ends of the side bars, each wheel frame comprisingdownwardly converging curved end ,bars, and a curved intermediate bar,the adjacent ends of said'bars forming clamping members, and stud axlessecuredin position by said clamping members.

6. In a perambulator of the character described, the combination with amain frame having side bars, of wheel frames each pivoted at its ends tothe ends of the side bars, each wheel frame comprising downwardlyconverging curved end bars and'a curved intermediate bar, the adjacentends of said bars forming clamp members, stud axles secured by .saidclamp members, and transverse toggle braces having their outer endspivoted between the said adjacent ends of said bars of the wheelfraines.

7. In a perambulator of the character described, the combinationwith'the main frame, the wheel frames pivoted thereto, and wheelsjournaled on said wheel frames, of jointed toggle braces permanentlypivoted to and connecting said wheel frames.

8. In a-perambulator of the character described, the combination withthe main frame, the wheel frames pivoted thereto, and wheels journhledon said wheel frames, of toggle braces connecting said wheel frames,each of said toggle braces having downwardly turned ends and an upwardlycurved middle portion.

porting said seat and having their front ends attached to the mainframe, said seat being elevated above said main frame, and beingyielding 1y supported by said side bars.

11. In a folding perambulator of the character described, a main frame,folding wheel frames, a seat, side bars supporting said seat and havingtheir front ends attached to the main frame, said seat beingelevated.above said main frame and being yieldingly supported by said side bars,and springs interposed between the rear ends of said side bars and saidmain frame. v a

12; In a folding perambulator of the character described, a main frame,folding wheel frames, 21 seat supported on the mainframe, and sides forthe seat, each side comprising a tube bent into U-shapeand havingflattened ends, and longitudinally arranged pivots connecting theflattened ends of the said tubes to the seat.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature, in presence of twowitnesses. v

' DAVID R. COLLIER. Witnesses:

THATCHER B. DUNN, G. W. KEY-WORTH.

